Artist: Indian Ocean
Album: 16/330 Khajoor Road
Label: Independent
Release Date: February 25 2011
Songs: 14
Noteworthy: Jogiya & Bondhu
Iconic is not enough a word to describe the music that this band creates. Why I say that is, you ask? Now take a minute and think about the songs this band has created. Des Mera, Bandeh, Kaun, Khajuraho; if you don’t know any of these, just stick your head into a blaring speaker right now. Pioneering the fusion rock genre in India, Indian Ocean comprised of many different members over the years. Rahul Ram is the only lasting original member, but that doesn’t mean the band’s sound has dulled and this album is proof of that.
With a variety of instrumental and lyrical treats, 16/330 Khajoor Road manages to please with only a few shortcomings. Since the band is anti label, they released this album online and slowly, the final sets hitting the viral portals in Feb 2011. The album has the haunting vocals that have retained Indian Ocean on the top of most people’s fusion rock lists and each song has beautiful lyrics. The Hindi sung, sounds like Hindi. Refreshing. The music was typical Indian Ocean but with a nice twist here and there. They seem to have drawn from newer influences and newer sounds.
Coming to the songs. The band has created some epic tunes, so this album had a lot to live up to. The succeeded but there were a few numbers that managed to disappoint. There are live numbers, scratch songs and regular recordings out of which the scratch numbers are worth listening to on a lazy afternoon. Soni ki Nagi has the new instrument influences while Hulla, contrary to its meaning, is slow and kind of cool. One of the only two live numbers on the track, Leaving Home, shows off some incredible vocals. Jogiya is funky and almost sinister in its tune while Bondhu blew me away. The negative comes in the form of the instrumental. Bula Raha disappoints after Bondhu and Darte Ho follows suit.
The band holds its footing with numbers like Shoonya and Phere and while all in all, this is an album worth getting, you might want to stick to the songs with lyrics, though No Comebacks has a sensational guitar throughout.
